2019 Changes to Landlord Tenant Law in Washington
We have been implementing the changes to the rental law and while our tenants are mostly protected, we are seeing huge harm to tenants by the new law.
• 14 Day Notice of late rent: Under the old 3 day notice, landlords were accepting partial rents. Tenants would pay 1/4 of the rent in 3 days and get a new notice. After 4 weeks, they were caught up. With 14 days, if served on day 6 (Senator Kuderer’’ 5 day moritorium in 2020), and the eviction process taking 2-3 weeks, landlords cannot and are not taking partials. It is not a cost free tenant benefit. Landlords pay mortgage interest. 1/12 (monthly) of 6% of a missed $1000 rent is $5. Not huge but not zero. Add notice mailing and service costs and the landlord is out maybe another $37 that will never be paid.
• 60 Day No Cause Termination: Obviously landlords do not terminate without cause. Good tenants almost never get asked to move out. You are our livelihood. We need you. But if you do something racially offensive or threaten another tenant, and we don’t have an arrest, our only recourse to protect the life of our other tenants is “no cause” termination. Under 60 Days, which is really 60-90, a mean spirited person has plenty of time to get themselves riled up and retaliate against their neighbor and there is not a fracking thing a landlord can do to stop it.
• Screening: With all the problems, screening criteria has become tighter. It is harder and harder for tenants to qualify. Especially our most vulnerable.
• Inventory: In 2018, Tacoma LOST 17% of its rental properties sold off by investors and bought by people who will live there and not offer it as a rental. 2019 is shaping up to have TWICE as many homes removed from the market. Landlords are moving their investments to other states. Washington’s 300,000 homeless are fighting for maybe 25,000 vacant rentals. We don’t have a homeless crisis. We have a home crisis.
These are the biggies but many other problems exist.